The UK government is supposedly?

I read what "spliff" had to say on the subject and how swiftly she put the blame on councils. Not once however did she say that she would change a thing and so it's business as usual. They the government implemented these measures a long with a whole host of others, designed with one thought in mind and that is control. The absolute control over our very existence and like many things they have implemented, it's blown up in their face. Seeing that some councils are now removing speed cameras how long before we get them to remove surveillance cameras and put the police back on the street. If that were done we'd have less crime to watch after the event.

You may not agree with it, but I chanced upon an interesting article about British politics this morning which mentions that with increasing globalisation every country in the world has to find a 'new balance between civil liberties and security' and Labour shouldn't be blamed too much for 'taking away our freedoms'. I do also wonder if and how the Conservatives would have been able to differently if they had been in power throughout the last 12 years.

Bear in mind that the article was written 2 years ago before the economic downturn and just as Gordon Brown was taking over, but I thought it was quite a good analysis:

Contradictory in its self.On the one hand she is saying that the police are necessary to protect individual freedom and on the other hand that their powers must be curtailed.Freedom of choice or of speech should be the only freedom unconditionally allowed.Freedom of movement can lead to disaster for a country when radical nationalists who believe in their own minority claims instill terror on the population for their own ends.Two incidents shown on television whereby unfortunately a man died from a gentle push creates national outcry and a knee jerk reaction from a very poor government.We are devoid of a decent political party in Britain with a clear outlook for the future.The conservatives are wet and the liberals a nonentity without policy.Socialism is replacing capitalism in major economic countries and the sooner labour embraces what it should stand for instead of mock conservatism the better

This Brown government and the previous Blair one have eroded away almost all of our freedoms and taxed us to the hilt. That is why are in the mess we are in now. Using counter terrorist legislation for any other purpose should be strictly illegal and the culprits (Police, Councillers and staff) who use it inappropriately should have all their assets confiscated and jailed for life. Harsh - yes of course but it needs to be.

The same punishment should be used for police officers who use inappropriate or excess force (eg at G20 demo).

And of course it should be used against muslim preachers who preach treason.

These laws should be used for what they are meant, to catch terrorists, there should be an independent body like the CPS that vets the stuff the councils get and order anything that is not terrorist related to be destroyed and no charges made. Councils that continue to abuse the laws should be heavily fined.

i usually dispise the french and everything they stand for. but i think in polotics, they have the right idea.

when they dont like something, they riot, set fire to dogs and cars, and generally go on strike until the government do a u-turn

if we dont like something, we throw green custard at our poloticians like theyve appeared on noels house party.

look what happened when we blocked the fuel ports, everythign stopped. do that again and theyll sit up and notice. put everyone on strike, that'll soon make em sit u up :)

when ever ANY MP...be they labour, lib dem, or Conservative speaks, its like watching the dog throw up on your living room carpet. What ever comes out is a foul unwanted load of unpalatable crap. and its always some one els who has to clear it all up.